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Halla Ármannsdóttir

The Swedish School of Textiles, University of Borås

I am a textile designer whose practice explores the intersection of materiality, structure, and spatial experience. Working primarily with knitting, I investigate how textile techniques can extend beyond conventional applications to become sculptural, architectural, and sensory elements. My work combines digital and handcraft processes, emphasising experimentation, material behavior, and iterative making as methods of inquiry. My interests lie in the relationships between textiles, space, and the human body, with a particular focus on how knitted structures can shape atmosphere, acoustics, and tactile experiences. Through a practice-based approach, I seek to challenge traditional perceptions of textiles by exploring their potential as three-dimensional forms and spatial interventions. Currently completing a master degree in Textile Design, my research examines how knitting can function as a medium for creating immersive and meaningful environments while contributing to contemporary discussions on material innovation, craftsmanship, and sustainable design.

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Journey Through the Highlands - Sculptural Knitting

Category: Interior

Competitions: Home Competition 2026

This project explores the relationship between traditional craftsmanship and modern knitting technology, investigating how the two can coexist within a contemporary craft practice. Rather than viewing industrial knitting as a replacement for hand knitting, the project examines how technological tools can expand the expressive possibilities of knitting while remaining rooted in craft knowledge. The work focuses on the development of large-scale knitted textile sculptures through experimentation with colour, three-dimensional knitted structures, and natural stiffening methods. Industrial knitting technology enables the production of larger knitted surfaces, while handcraft techniques and material experimentation remain central to the design process. Colour gradients are created through yarn blending, and salt-based stiffening processes transform the soft knitted textiles into sculptural forms using 100% natural materials. Throughout the project, making became an iterative dialogue between the maker, the machine, and the material, where sampling and experimentation guided the development of the final works. Inspired by Icelandic landscapes and personal experiences of hiking, the sculptures translate the atmosphere of nature into abstract textile forms. Rather than representing specific places, the works evoke qualities such as tranquillity, curiosity, movement, and sensory engagement through texture, scale, and spatial composition. The project also questions the traditional separation between craft and industry, proposing that their combination offers new opportunities for innovation within textile practice. By integrating heritage techniques with contemporary knitting technology, the work contributes to ongoing discussions about the future of knitting as a living craft. It demonstrates how traditional knowledge, technological development, and material exploration can collectively expand the artistic and structural possibilities of knitted textiles within contemporary art and design.

In association with Arts Thread

Working with our partners at Arts Thread to develop lifelong learning and career opportunities for students of fashion and design. Our partnership provides the opportunity to compete on a world stage, participate in industry led workshops, set up an outstanding portfolio and gain access to the resources that will kickstart careers in fashion and design.